Melez nodded and ran off to her room to place the necklace down
carefully on the pile of clothes before returning to Eona. "For now
I'll keep it in my room on the clothes, until I get a dresser that
is." She grinned, already starting to plan out her room. She had
enough coin and could earn enough coin to make it look exactly how
she'd want.
"Good! I can't wait to help you! Anything you want to put in there,
we'll find a way to get it! Ready to dig?" Eona asked, hooking her
arm through Melez's. "We've got to get the tools first but they are
on the way to the room I put the rocks in!"
Melez grinned broadly as her arm was taken by Eona. "Let's go get
them!" She chuckled, her painful memories shoved out of mind for
the moment. Life... Life is cruel. Life is cold. Life is
heartless. All these things is what life is... But if life is all
of those things, how could it lead me to Eona? How... And
why...
Eona led the way to a pile of tools she used to help her cut
through boulders. Picking up an armful of things, she set off
towards where she'd put the boulders. "Alright," she said, sitting
down in front of one of the boulders. Eona set out the tools and
pulled her chosen rock closer. "So you want to go slow. But you
must also be firm with these too. If you're too gentle, it'll take
a long time. Or not break at all." Then she pointed out certain
tools and told Melez their use. Once she'd said all she could think
to, Eona set to work on the rock in front of her.
Melez listened intently to the instructions and took the necessary
tools over to another boulder and began gently, but firmly chipping
away at the boulder. "What... Exactly... Are we... Looking... For?"
She asked between hits of the hammer on the chisel.
"Nothing in particular. Just chipping away to see if there is
anything inside. I've found gold and rose quartz in that section
before so keep your eyes pealed for any change in color. If there
is, then gently chisel around it until it's mostly that color.
Here," Eona showed her the rock she had. The large mass had a bit
of pale bit showing through. "See that? It's something interesting.
It could be tiny or it could be bigger. I can't tell yet. But I
also can smell some of this stuff so I have an easier time finding
it. That's how I found the gold earlier."
Melez nodded and went back to chipping into the rock taking her
time. She stopped and stared for a moment before continuing slower.
"I-I think I may have found something..." She held the rock to the
side and on it was a spot that seemed to be almost purple in color.
"Do you think it might be amethyst?"
Eona paused and took a closer look. "It's something like that! Hold
on!" Then she jumped up and moved back to shift. Once in her dragon
form, she moved in close and began to delicately sniff at the rock.
Nodding her head, she said, "Yup! That's amethyst! I think I am
going to name a hatchling Amethyst...it's so pretty!" Eona shifted
back and sat back down. "Though, I might end up naming all my
hatchlings after jewels...though, I guess I have to find a mate
first. And sitting way out here hasn't exactly presented too many
male dragons. Or guys to begin with. One day. I'm not in a rush."
Melez smiled as Eona shifted and sniffed at the rock. Perhaps Eona
could try and teach her how to smell the different gemstones, but
her nose may not be good enough to do that. "That's how you do it
actually... Take your time and find the right one, but don't refuse
everyone until no one will approach you..." She shrugs as she
starts daintily chipping at the area around the amethyst. "Not that
I'm speaking from too much experience, I never even had a real
boyfriend." She chuckled which then turned to a little laughter. "I
mean, I've had friends who are boys, but not in that sort of
relationship..." She sighed almost inaudibly.
"That's more then I've had," Eona giggled. "I mean, I have talked
to guys and all but normally, I keep to myself. I'm too afraid that
if I don't, something bad will happen. Before I got away, I know I
was with a lot of men. But they don't count. They were my handlers,
my slave owners...at least, that's how I see it. I remember this
one boy would sneak me pretty colored rocks he found. But he wasn't
there long. I still have those rocks. I tied them in knots in the
hem of my shirt so I didn't lose them. They are worth nothing on
the market. But to me? They are priceless. I knew he'd be in huge
trouble at the time but I didn't know how much danger he was really
in until I grew up. He risked a ton just to give the sad little
dragon hatchling something pretty. It was more then pretty though.
It was kindness. And that was what kept me from giving up and
accepting it all. That's why I ran when my handler fell down. Why I
didn't let the wolves or the dogs get me." She'd lost herself in
her memories. Looking up at Melez, her eyes gave away the moment
she managed to pull herself back to reality. "Sorry. I kind
of...got lost."
During Eona's story Melez had set the chisel down and turned to
listen with her full attention. Nearing the end of the story Melez
had stood up and moved closer so that when she had finished with
her story, Melez knelt down and wrapped her arms around the smaller
female. "Aren't we all?" She said as she gently, but firmly
reassured Eona. "I won't let anyone get you. I swear it." When she
makes a promise she keeps it until it has been fulfilled, or she
dies. "I'm glad you ran, for if you hadn't I wouldn't have been
able to meet such an amazing person..."
Eona leaned into Melez, taking silent comfort from her. "I'm glad I
ran too. That place was bad enough that I have repressed memories
popping up out of the blue. And what I remember on my own is bad
enough. I know you won't let someone take me. I won't let anyone
take you either. You, my friend, are very much so part of my clan.
So if someone thinks they can mess with you, they will quickly find
themselves sorely mistaken between the two of us," Eona told her,
seriously. She was thankful for the comfort Melez offered.
"If you ever need or want to talk about the memories... I'm here
for you." Melez relinquished her grip and sat back, a gentle smile
on her face. "And yes, if anyone messes with one of us, they'll
find that they made a huge mistake." A grin spread across Melez's
lips and a glint in her eyes said that she wasn't joking. Eona had
only seen Melez when she was injured, what could this half angel
and half demon do when at her full potential?
(Shall we do a little jump to when they go into town again perhaps?
Or did you have another thing in mind?)
Days passed, both girls becoming more acquainted with each other.
Eventually, they needed to go back into town to replenish their
supplies. So Eona gathered up her things, getting ready to go out
to the market. "Almost ready!" she called, pulling her cloak on.
"Are you almost set?" We'll need some more sugar, eggs, chicken,
maybe some flour, and some berries for sure, Eona thought to
herself.
Melez emerged from her room in her trench coat, and the rest of the
outfit that Eona found her in. "I'm ready!" She called out happily
as she headed for the mouth of the cave. What do I want to make
for dinner tonight? Hmm... Perhaps a pasta? Nah... Perhaps
breakfast for dinner? That might be nice...
Eona smiled, joining Melez in walking out of the cave. "Should we
check out some stuff for your room too?" Eona asked, thinking of
checking out the dress shop. There was probably some new fabric she
could get to make a new dress. Feeling her cloak swish around her,
Eona felt mysterious and magical. She'd left her hood down, letting
her bright red hair be ruffled by the wind.
Melez walked alongside Eona, the bottom of her trench coat blowing
in the same wind that ruffled her friend's hair. She took a deep
breath and looked to the sky. "Hmm... A lovely day... Though,
something seems... Off..." She glances over to Eona. "Do you feel
it?"
"Off? A little. But that might just be coming from the market?
Maybe something bad happened. And we're feeling the sadness?" she
asked, remembering the time she'd come to town after one of the
citizens passed away. The sadness had permeated the air, making
everyone feel depressed.
"That may just be. Or it's that I don't really like going into
towns..." Melez shrugged. "I just get these feelings sometimes, and
they're usually right, but I think you're right this time. Probably
just a death in the town, or a robbery..." She smiled slightly as
she took a deep breath smelling the scent of pines on the breeze.
"If it keeps up, we can go back home. It's always good to trust
instinct. We can check it out first before we make up our minds
though," Eona offered, not wanting Melez to be uncomfortable. Her
short legs stepped quickly to eat up the long road between them and
town. "If that feeling gets worse, let me know, okay?"